I can finally breathe :)

Let us all take a break and catch our breath

t has been a CRAZY four weeks in this WEPO class. now is the time that we sit back relax and really look at the things we have learned over the time we have spent together. One of the first things we learned about in this class was rhetoric. Before understanding what editing and print was all about, we first had to understand the use of words to convey messages, or RHETORIC.

*With rhetoric, there are a few words that I believe are extremely important when trying to understand how rhetoric works....

Rhetorical Situation: the rhetorical situation as bitzer states, is the situation that causes you to become a rhetor. or in simpilier terms. It is what causes you to write and want to communicate. it is the fuel to your fire of composing.

Invention: Another word that is extremely important in the rhetorical process is invention. invention is where you as a composer are gathering facts and knowledge about your said topic. with the invention step, you are creating the grounds for which your argument is able to stand. this is crucial as being a composer because you must make sure all of your statements can stand on their own.

Delivery: Delivery to me is the most important part of the rhetorical process. Delivery being one of the last canons of the rhetorical process is how one gives off his message. Though Aristole states that this is a loss canon, the most important part in any message or situation is how you deiver it. The delivery of your message is what seals the deal. learn your audience and plan on how to touch them in the best way possible.

Compostion is a word that many people feel they can define but do not realize exactly who a composer is or what they do.

When composing you are creating a piece of work that addresses an issue. with this piece of work you are trying to persuade others to agree with your Point Of View on the work.

* Like rhetoric, there are words that must first be understood before compostion itself can truly be understood.

Audience: A major word when dealing with compostion is audience. The article we read as a class dealing with the many changes of rhetoric over time shows how your audience changes how you compose work. Composing for a five year old will create a completely different sent of work than if you were composing for a fifty year old.

Revision: Revision is a great step in the ladder of compostion. with revision, the composer is looking at his work to make sure that the message he or she wants to get across is able to happen. Revision can be mutiple drafts of the same work, starting the piece over completely or trying to find a way to piece together different ideas to create a whole. As Sommer's article states, revision is an important part for a new composer. the person who is revising their work can help them figure out exactly what they are trying to say as well as find their own voice as a composer.

Editing: Editing is more of the cherry on top when dealing with composing. when you edit, you are looking at the work on a level that is minute. You are checking spelling, Grammar, Sentence Structure. There can be more than one editior to help a composer with their work. The editing process is where the composer is solidifying their work before it is distributed to his or her followers.

The process of rhetoric and composing sometimes seem to overlap. the reasoning for this can be looked at as if you were to look at a family tree. Notice how you and your great grandmother have the same eyes? Its because you guys are from the same blood line. Words such as Rhetorical Situation, Audience, Invention, Delivery, and Editing all can work for rhetoric as well as composing. why is this? They are from the same Rhetorical Family Tree. The older generation such as plato and Aristole created way for new composers such as Yatce, Sommers, and Bitzer that we have learned about. Though they are at times arguing what aristole says for what rhetoric means, they are using the same set up he used to create rhetoric as composer.

Knowledge is Power, But is Knowledge fact?

Knowledge is a very powerful tool to have. With knowledge you are able to fight for things you believe in, change unjust laws and rules for the greater of society. With knowledge you are able to better man kind for the better. Now the question that comes with knowledge is this. Is all Knowledge factual? The sophists during aristoles time and a little before the romans felt that knowledge was factual because humans made it factual. If no one is going to question the information you tell them, then it becomes factual, but not correct. For a very long time the world was thought to be flat. No one came around and questioned this idea for a very long time. When someone finally questioned the knowledge of the world being flat, the information was changed and as we all know today, the world is round. Due to someone questioning the knowledge that they learned, they recreated facts.

Reflection is a huge component of being a composer. Reflecting on one's self as well as one's work allows for the composer to be the best composer they can be. When a composer truly understands who they are as a writer, as well as truly understand what message are they trying to convey, will they be able to hit a home run with their piece of work. The mirror is said to be one thing that humans are not able to lie to. By reflecting on yourself, you can understand what you stand for and believe in, just as with your work. You can reflect to understand if the message you wanted to show was portarayed. Reflecting is a huge part in understanding the composer and the compostion.

My theory of composing has not changed drastically from when we first started out in this class. It has however been expanded upon. As a composer, one must first understand themself and what they stand for. They must then try and understand the work they are about to tackle or the rhetorical situation. With this,there is a lot of research dealing with facts, audience, the best method to use as well as editing and revision. Once all of these steps have been addressed, the piece of composition in front of the composer will be truly complete, just as the ying and the yang complete each other.